MEET JANIELLE
My name is Janielle Lucas, author of City of Unbrotherly Love, a memoir detailing my struggle with PTSD, chronic illness, and the therapeutic power of mindfulness and empowerment. Before my literary journey, I built a career in finance, currently serving as Vice President of Sales and Marketing for a mutual fund advisory firm.
MY CHILDHOOD
I grew up in Southern New Jersey, attending Gateway Regional High School and Rowan University. My town was in the country, almost rural, and I cultivated a love for animals and the outdoors. All throughout my younger years, I trained as a Junior Olympic gymnast. I loved the sport, but it left me with multiple injuries, countless surgeries, and a painful chronic condition that caused my body to go into menopause at age 21.
LIFE IN PHILADELPHIA
I left my gymnast days behind me to pursue my career, moving to Philadelphia around age 30. My experience in Philadelphia was largely influenced by my entrepreneurial ambitions. While pursuing my career in finance, I discovered the power of a dedicated hot yoga practice.
As a lifelong gymnast, I was initially skeptical of the practice, but soon found that the heated practice subdued my symptoms and gave me a renewed sense of energy. I threw myself into the practice and developed a thesis around how the body and mind could be affected by practicing yoga in even hotter temperatures. Over time, I was able to not only heal my body but also my mind and soul, in a hotter space that I designed.
In 2019, I opened my own yoga studio called Philly Hot Asana, focusing on healing and detox practices, to help others struggling with chronic mental and physical illnesses.
This is where my story begins.
MY LITERARY JOURNEY
My debut book explores my journey as an entrepreneur and the unexpected, terrifying challenges I never thought I’d face. I write about learning to heal from stalking, PTSD, judicial corruption, and the mental and physical challenges that came with that. The situation led me to close down my studio, technically I was “evicted,” and embark on a journey of self-healing, reflection, growth, and change.
I now reside in Miami, still continuing my career in finance but focusing much more on my writing career and my goals of helping others who have experienced similar situations. My mission is to provide the resources and guidance that I didn’t have when navigating the most traumatic times in my own life.
MY STORY
My story is littered with criminals, stalkers, and perceived protectors. It’s a story of fear, powerlessness, and my eventual journey towards healing, self-validation, and empowerment.
In 2019, I signed a sublease for my yoga studio, Philly Hot Asana, with someone I thought was a legitimate landlord. I could not have been more wrong. I went to work building my studio and immediately knew something wasn’t quite right with the situation.
It started when I discovered that my so-called “landlord” was living in my leased space without my consent. It then became clear that up until this point, my “landlord” had been illegally pocketing my rent money, so the owner of the building advised me to stop paying rent. I listened to the building owner and ceased payments. To my surprise, I promptly received an eviction notice from my “landlord.” I tried to take the matter to the city but when COVID-19 struck, the courts were delayed and the city legally permitted my “landlord” to continue living in this commercial property. During that time he continued to use my things, videotape me without permission, and harass me to the point of it becoming criminal.
Any attempt I made to stand up for myself against my “landlord” led to death threats, intimidation, and roadblocks beyond my control, sometimes from the very people I thought were there to help me: police, lawyers, and judges. It seemed these criminals and the professionals paid to keep communities safe were all on the same team.
I sat down to write my book as a means to help me deal with the PTSD I had developed throughout this experience. The writing process became incredibly therapeutic and helped me heal after all I knew as my life in Philadelphia had been taken from me. Before I knew it, I had written a book.
I know that others struggle with similar situations and the same feelings of dread and helplessness. I want my book to help people feel less alone in their struggles and show them there’s always another way to reach your goals, even when things appear hopeless.
I never thought I’d write a book. It’s not something that was on my bucket list. Life provided the opportunity, and I listened as best I could.
